Sunday, March 24, 2013

Pretty In Pink!

Pretty in Pink accurately

describes the Purple Leaf Plum which is flowering
now throughout the middle Rio Grande Valley of New Mexico.

Purple Leaf Plum (Prunus cerasifera)
is an ornamental tree grown for its pink spring flowers and purple
foliage. It is a smaller tree growing to about 10'-12' tall and wide,
sometimes a little larger. It does not produce fruit but there may be
occasionally small remnant fruit. T

he Purple Leaf Plum is not a drought
tolerant tree and grows best with regular water, on good soil with a surface
layer of mulch. The Purple Leaf Plum prefers a well-drained soil but can also
be grown on heavier clay soils especially if an appropriate rootstock is used.
This ornamental flowering tree is hardy to USDA Zone 5.